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Comparison of a commercially available assay system with two reference methods for the determination of plasma cholinesterase variants.

For assaying plasma cholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) activity and phenotyping by means of dibucaine inhibition, we have compared a commercially available kit, in which butyrylthiocholine is used as substrate, with two reference methods, one using benzoylcholine and the other propionylthiocholine. With 50 different samples of three of the most common genetic variants, we could clearly differentiate the variants with benzoylcholine and dibucaine, whereas there was some overlap of the E1uE1u and E1uE1a phenotypes with the other two substrates at 30 degrees C. The phenotypes were better differentiated at 25 degrees C, and in our hands the use of butyrylthiocholine was preferable to propionylthiocholine for phenotyping with dibucaine. The affinity of the usual and atypical homozygotes for fluoride with butyrylthiocholine gave an inverted response to the affinity of these variants for the anion with benzoylcholine. We suggest that this may be explained by the role of the chromogen or its products in the assay procedure with the thiocholine substrate.

Benzoylcholine↗

The search for genetic risk factors associated with suicidal behavior.

BACKGROUND: Suicide and suicidal behavior are prevalent among individuals with psychiatric disorders, including alcohol dependence. A genome screen was performed in multiplex alcohol dependent families ascertained as part of the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism to identify chromosomal regions of interest related to two types of suicidal behavior: suicide attempts and suicidality. METHODS: Sibling pair analyses were used to conduct linkage analyses using both qualitative and quantitative suicide-related phenotypes. The qualitative trait of "suicide attempts" was examined using 59 affected sibling pairs. The quantitative trait of "suicidality" was examined using all possible 1366 sibling pairs and 705 independent sibling pairs. RESULTS: For the qualitative phenotype suicide attempts, chromosome 2 yielded a maximum lod score of 4.2. For the quantitative suicidality index, a maximum lod score of 1.8 was observed on chromosome 3, and a lod score of 1.5 was found on chromosome 1. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the first genome-wide scan of suicidal behavior. Significant evidence of linkage was found on chromosome 2 for the phenotype suicide attempts, the same chromosomal region previously reported to be linked to alcohol dependence in this sample. This finding does not seem to be due solely to an association between suicide and alcohol dependence. There was more modest evidence of linkage to chromosomes 1 and 3 for suicidality; however, these findings did not reach statistical significance. There was no overlap in findings for these two phenotypes of suicidal behavior.

Alcoholism↗

Differential effects of heterochromatin protein 1 isoforms on mitotic chromosome distribution and growth in Dictyostelium discoideum.

Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) is a well-characterized heterochromatin component conserved from fission yeast to humans. We identified three HP1-like genes (hcpA, hcpB, and hcpC) in the Dictyostelium discoideum genome. Two of these (hcpA and hcpB) are expressed, and the proteins colocalized as green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion proteins in one major cluster at the nuclear periphery that was also characterized by histone H3 lysine 9 dimethylation, a histone modification so far not described for Dictyostelium. The data strongly suggest that this cluster represents the centromeres. Both single-knockout strains displayed only subtle phenotypes, suggesting that both isoforms have largely overlapping functions. In contrast, disruption of both isoforms appeared to be lethal. Furthermore, overexpression of a C-terminally truncated form of HcpA resulted in phenotypically distinct growth defects that were characterized by a strong decrease in cell viability. Although genetic evidence implies functional redundancy, overexpression of GFP-HcpA, but not GFP-HcpB, caused growth defects that were accompanied by an increase in the frequency of atypic anaphase bridges. Our data indicate that Dictyostelium discoideum cells are sensitive to changes in HcpA and HcpB protein levels and that the two isoforms display different in vivo and in vitro affinities for each other. Since the RNA interference (RNAi) machinery is frequently involved in chromatin remodeling, we analyzed if knockouts of RNAi components influenced the localization of H3K9 dimethylation and HP1 isoforms in Dictyostelium. Interestingly, heterochromatin organization appeared to be independent of functional RNAi.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Separation and partial characterization of neuropeptide-inducing factors in heart cell conditioned medium.

Various conditioned media contain multiple factors that regulate the expression of the neurotransmitters acetylcholine, serotonin, and catecholamines and the neuropeptides substance P, somatostatin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-related peptides, cholecystokinin, and enkephalins in cultured sympathetic neurons. Using biochemical and immunological methods, we identify at least three distinct factors in heart cell conditioned medium: one induces acetylcholine, substance P, somatostatin, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-related peptides while suppressing catecholamine expression, a second factor induces only vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-related peptides, and a third factor induces only somatostatin expression. These observations demonstrate the existence of a group of biochemically and immunologically distinct factors involved in phenotypic specification with unique, but partially overlapping activities. The analogy with the family of differentiation factors in the hematopoietic system is discussed.

Animals↗

Molecular phylogeny and evolutionary biology of Acrodipsas (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).

Most butterflies in the family Lycaenidae associate with ants but fewer than 3% are myrmecophagous. Larvae of the Australian endemic butterfly genus Acrodipsas parasitise the nests of ants from two subfamilies and, thus, constitute an interesting and uncommon myrmecophagous radiation within the Lepidoptera. Phylogenetic relationships among Acrodipsas species were inferred from fragments of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunits I and II totalling 1155 bp using maximum parsimony and a neighbour joining method. Monophyly of the genus was confirmed, as was the sister genus status of Lucia. Acrodipsas myrmecophila was established as the plesiotypic Acrodipsas species, which together with Acrodipsas brisbanensis parasitises the ancestral dolichoderine host-ants. A speciation event associated with a radical host-ant shift to Myrmicinae occurred in an ancestor of Acrodipsas cuprea but subsequent speciation events may have been driven by climatic fluctuations during the Pleistocene. Modifications to leg morphology in several species were found to be a synapomorphic state, which arose subsequent to the host-shift to Myrmicinae. Minimal genetic variation detected in allopatric species exhibiting divergent morphology suggests that phenotypic variability has been driven by strong environmental selective pressures. As a result, morphological differences between closely related allopatric species have evolved faster than genetic differences, most notably between Acrodipsas arcana and Acrodipsas illidgei. In contrast, sympatric lineages of A. brisbanensis across similar habitats show considerable genetic differentiation, yet have remained phenotypically indistinguishable. Successful amplification of short overlapping fragments of DNA from museum specimens confirms their utility for phylogenetic analysis when the availability of fresh tissue is limited.

Animals↗

Confirmation and genetic dissection of a major quantitative trait locus for alcohol preference drinking.

OBJECTIVE: In previous work, we created congenic strains that carry the DBA/2IBG (D2) region for alcohol preference on chromosome 2, on an otherwise C57BL/6IBG (B6) background. Here, we report construction and testing of interval-specific congenic recombinant strains (ISCRSs) for the purpose of narrowing the quantitative trait loci (QTL) interval. METHODS: ISCRSs were derived by identifying mice that carry recombination events in the D2 interval, during the backcrossing for congenics. Recombinant mice were backcrossed to B6, and progeny that carry the reduced chromosome 2 region were tested for its effect on the alcohol preference phenotype. RESULTS: We developed multiple ISCR strains, which spanned the QTL interval. Three of these showed the D2 phenotype of reduced alcohol consumption. The overlap of two of these strains reduced the QTL interval from 66.8 to 3.5 Mb. A third positive ISCRS suggests the possibility of a second, linked QTL. CONCLUSIONS: Use of ISCRSs can narrow a QTL region to a few Mb. This reduced interval size will facilitate identification of candidate genes, through bioinformatics, gene expression, and DNA sequencing strategies. Potential difficulties, including reduced power as a result of variable phenotypes or small effect size, are discussed.

Alcohol Drinking↗

22q11.2 duplication syndrome: two new familial cases with some overlapping features with DiGeorge/velocardiofacial syndromes.

Twenty-one patients, including our two cases, with variable clinical phenotype, ranging from mild learning disability to severe congenital malformations or overlapping features with DiGeorge/velocardiofacial syndromes (DG/VCFS), have been shown to have a chromosome duplication 22q11 of the region that is deleted in patients with DG/VCFS. The reported cases have been identified primarily by interphase FISH and could have escaped identification and been missed by routine cytogenetic analysis. Here we report on two inherited cases, referred to us, to rule out 22q11 microdeletion diagnosis of VCFS. The first patient was a 2-month-old girl, who presented with cleft palate, minor dysmorphic features including short palpebral fissures, widely spaced eyes, long fingers, and hearing loss. Her affected mother had mild mental retardation and learning disabilities. The second patient was a 7(1/2)-year-old boy with velopharyngeal insufficiency and mild developmental delay. He had a left preauricular tag, bifida uvula, bilateral fifth finger clinodactyly, and bilateral cryptorchidism. His facial features appeared mildly dysmorphic with hypertelorism, large nose, and micro/retrognathia. The affected father had mild mental retardation and had similar facial features. FISH analysis of interphase cells showed three TUPLE1-probe signals with two chromosome-specific identification probes in each cell. FISH analysis did not show the duplication on the initial testing of metaphase chromosomes. On review, band q11.2 was brighter on one chromosome 22 in some metaphase spreads. The paucity of reported cases of 22q11.2 microduplication likely reflects a combination of phenotypic diversity and the difficulty of diagnosis by FISH analysis on metaphase spreads. These findings illustrate the importance of scanning interphase nuclei when performing FISH analysis for any of the genomic disorders.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

A PEX6-defective peroxisomal biogenesis disorder with severe phenotype in an infant, versus mild phenotype resembling Usher syndrome in the affected parents.

Sensorineural deafness and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) are the hallmarks of Usher syndrome (USH) but are also prominent features in peroxisomal biogenesis defects (PBDs); both are autosomal recessively inherited. The firstborn son of unrelated parents, who both had sensorineural deafness and RP diagnosed as USH, presented with sensorineural deafness, RP, dysmorphism, developmental delay, hepatomegaly, and hypsarrhythmia and died at age 17 mo. The infant was shown to have a PBD, on the basis of elevated plasma levels of very-long- and branched-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs and BCFAs), deficiency of multiple peroxisomal functions in fibroblasts, and complete absence of peroxisomes in fibroblasts and liver. Surprisingly, both parents had elevated plasma levels of VLCFAs and BCFAs. Fibroblast studies confirmed that both parents had a PBD. The parents' milder phenotypes correlated with relatively mild peroxisomal biochemical dysfunction and with catalase immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrating mosaicism and temperature sensitivity in fibroblasts. The infant and both of his parents belonged to complementation group C. PEX6 gene sequencing revealed mutations on both alleles, in the infant and in his parents. This unique family is the first report of a PBD with which the parents are themselves affected individuals rather than asymptomatic carriers. Because of considerable overlap between USH and milder PBD phenotypes, individuals suspected to have USH should be screened for peroxisomal dysfunction.

ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activitie↗

Evidence that AEC syndrome and Bowen--Armstrong syndrome are variable expressions of the same disease.

Several clinical disorders combine ectodermal dysplasia (ED) and cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P). These conditions have been recognized as a group of diseases with a narrow phenotypic spectrum and multiple points of overlap. We report a patient with a clinical diagnosis of AEC syndrome (ankyloblepharon, ectodermal defects, and CL/P) who additionally has some features observed in a different ED-CL/P disorder, Bowen-Armstrong syndrome. Because of this clinical overlap, we suggest that AEC syndrome and Bowen-Armstrong syndrome may be variable manifestations of the same pathologic entity.

Bowen's Disease↗

Expanding the phenotypic spectrum of Cx26 disorders: Bart-Pumphrey syndrome is caused by a novel missense mutation in GJB2.

Bart-Pumphrey syndrome (BPS) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by sensorineural hearing loss, palmoplantar keratoderma, knuckle pads, and leukonychia, which show considerable phenotypic variability. The clinical features partially overlap with Vohwinkel syndrome and Keratitis-Ichthyosis-Deafness syndrome, both disorders caused by dominant mutations in the GJB2 gene encoding the gap junction protein connexin-26, suggesting an etiological relationship. We report here a novel GJB2 mutation N54K segregating in a family with BPS, which was not detected in 110 control individuals of Northern European ancestry. This non-conservative missense mutation lies within a cluster of pathogenic GJB2 mutations affecting the evolutionary conserved first extracellular loop of Cx26 important for docking of connexin hemichannels and voltage gating. Immunostaining of Cx26 in lesional palmar and knuckle skin was weak or absent, although its adnexal expression appeared normal and the punctate membrane staining of Cx26 and other epidermal connexins was not altered. Nevertheless, the widespread immunostaining of Cx30 throughout the spinous cell layers suggested a compensatory overexpression. Our results emphasize that pleiotropic GJB2 mutations are responsible for at least 5 overlapping dermatological disorders associated with syndromic hearing loss and cover a wide range of severity and organ involvement.

Adult↗

Tissue-specific resistance to cancer development in the rat: phenotypes of tumor-modifier genes.

Resistance to carcinogenesis in the rat is both strain- and tissue-specific. The phenotypic characteristics of resistance in the mammary gland, liver and peripheral nervous system (PNS) are strikingly similar. In all three tissues, initiation is intact with subsequent formation of preneoplastic cells and lesions. In the mammary gland and PNS, activation of the Ha-ras and neu proto-oncogenes, respectively, takes place. A number of different modifier genes are involved in resistance, many of which appear to be tissue-specific in their action with no overlap between strains. A single resistance phenotype, however, involving the formation, growth and subsequent loss of preneoplastic lesions is common to all three tissues of resistant strains. In the PNS, there is evidence that preneoplastic cells are eliminated by apoptosis or immunosurveillance. In the mammary gland and liver, the immune system is not involved in the loss of preneoplastic lesions and there are no clear differences between susceptible and resistant strains in the kinetics of proliferation and apoptosis of preneoplastic cells. The evidence to date favors a mechanism in which preneoplastic cells from these tissues undergo a process of remodeling/redifferentiation to yield cells with a normal phenotype. Identification of human homologues of rodent tumor-modifier genes will result in a better understanding of cancer development and potentially provide new strategies for prevention and therapy.

Animals↗

Characterization of the muscle involvement in dynamin 2-related centronuclear myopathy.

Centronuclear myopathy (CNM) is a slowly progressive congenital myopathy characterized by abnormal centrally located nuclei in a large number of muscle fibres. Recently, different missense mutations affecting the middle domain of the dynamin 2 (DNM2) have been shown to cause autosomal dominant CNM. In order to better define the phenotype of DNM2-related CNM, we report here on the clinical and muscle imaging findings of 10 patients harbouring DNM2 mutations. DNM2-CNM is characterized by slowly progressive muscular weakness usually beginning in adolescence or early adulthood. In addition to bilateral ptosis, our data show that distal muscle weakness often exceeds proximal involvement. Furthermore, electrophysiological investigations frequently demonstrated signs of mild axonal peripheral nerve involvement, and electromyographical examination may show neuropathic changes in addition to the predominant myopathic changes. These features overlap with findings seen in the phenotype of DNM2-related autosomal dominant Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2B. In all 10 DNM2-CNM patients, muscle computer tomography assessment showed a consistent pattern of muscular involvement and a characteristic temporal course with early and predominant distal muscle involvement, and later affection of the posterior thigh compartment and gluteus minimus muscles. The recognition of this specific imaging pattern of muscle involvement--distinct to the reported patterns in other congenital myopathies--may enable a better selection for direct genetic testing.

Adolescent↗

Unusual complications in siblings with marfanoid phenotype.

Marfan's syndrome has diverse manifestations that overlap with those seen in other connective tissue disorders. Visceral diverticula have been described only once in four adults with marfanoid features of recessive inheritance. Two siblings of a consanguineous marriage with marfanoid features, visceral diverticula, and diaphragmatic eventration are reported.

Adolescent↗

Developmental genetics of loci at the base of the X chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster.

We have conducted a genetic and developmental analysis of the 26 contiguous genetic complementation groups within the 19D3-20F2 interval of the base of the X chromosome, a region of 34 polytene bands delimited by the maroon-like and suppressor of forked loci. Within this region there are four loci which cause visible phenotypes but which have little or no effect on zygotic viability (maroon-like, little fly, small optic lobes and sluggish). There are 22 loci which, when mutated, are zygotic lethals and three of these, legless/runt, folded gastrulation and 13E3, have severe effects on embryonic development. In addition, three visible phenotypes have been defined only by overlapping deficiencies (melanized-like, tumorous head, and varied outspread). We have analyzed the lethal phases and maternal requirement of 58 mutations at 22 of the zygotic lethal loci by means of germline clone analysis using the dominant female sterile technique. Additionally, all lethal complementation groups, as well as a specific subset of deficiencies, have been studied histologically for defects in the development of the central and peripheral embryonic nervous systems.

Animals↗

Genetically based resistance to the antiinflammatory effects of methotrexate in the air-pouch model of acute inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: Low-dose methotrexate (MTX), a mainstay in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, is effective in only 60-70% of patients, a finding mirrored by poor antiinflammatory efficacy in some animal models, most notably collagen-induced arthritis. To determine whether genetic factors or the model itself is responsible for the poor response to MTX, we directly compared the responses of 4 inbred mouse strains to MTX in the air-pouch model of acute inflammation. METHODS: The exudate leukocyte count and adenosine concentration were determined in inbred mice treated with MTX (0.75 mg/kg intraperitoneally every week for 4 weeks) or vehicle 4 hours after injection of carrageenan into the air pouch using previously described methods. Quantitative trait locus mapping was performed using an in silico, or computer-based, method to identify loci potentially associated with each phenotype. RESULTS: MTX significantly reduced the exudate leukocyte count in C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ mice, but not DBA/1J (the strain used in the collagen-induced arthritis model) or DBA/2J mice. In a parallel manner, MTX increased adenosine concentration in inflammatory exudates of C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ mice, but not DBA/1J or DBA/2J mice. Antiinflammatory and adenosine responses to MTX in DBA/1J x C57BL/6J F(1) and F(2) offspring were most consistent with single genetic loci being responsible for each phenotype. In silico mapping identified partially overlapping loci containing candidate genes involved in both responses. CONCLUSION: Genetic factors contribute to the antiinflammatory efficacy of MTX, and a single locus involved in MTX-induced adenosine up-regulation is likely responsible for the observed resistance to MTX in DBA/1J mice.

Acute Disease↗

Velo-cardio-facial syndrome: a distinctive behavioral phenotype.

Velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) is the most common contiguous gene disorder and one of the most common multiple anomaly syndromes in humans. Over 180 anomalies have been delineated in the syndrome; the most common of which are the behavioral manifestations. Learning disabilities, psychiatric illness, attention deficit disorder, and a variety of developmental disorders are nearly ubiquitous findings in VCFS and are not mutually exclusive, often overlapping to create a distinctive yet confusing phenotypic picture. In addition, standard treatments for each of these separate clinical findings may not be effective, and may even be potentially harmful in individuals with VCFS, such as the use of stimulants for hyperactivity. VCFS is caused by a small deletion of DNA from the long arm of chromosome 22. Researchers are currently studying the deletion located at 22q11.2 because of the possibility that a firm genetic link to psychiatric illness and learning disorders may be found. This report describes the behavioral manifestations of VCFS, emphasizing the overlap between the cognitive and psychiatric disorders that are so common in this syndrome. MRDD Research Reviews 2000;6:142-147.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Variable phenotypes in patients diagnosed with idiopathic multifocal choroiditis.

PURPOSE: To report investigations in a case series of patients diagnosed with idiopathic multifocal choroiditis (MFC) in order to determine whether or not a new clinical phenotype could be identified and to determine the long-term visual prognosis. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients were identified from the clinic database of approximately 1200 and subsequently reviewed. After ocular examination, which included fluorescein angiography, 20 of these patients were determined to have idiopathic MFC. Visual outcome, patient demographics, presenting symptoms, the distribution of inflammatory cells, the pattern of chorioretinal lesions and the development of peripapillary atrophy, choroidal new vessels or cystoid macular oedema were compared. RESULTS: The range of follow up was 1-27 years (mean 10 years). A Kaplan-Meier plot showed that approximately 60% of patients maintained their best-corrected visual acuity for 10 years after diagnosis. Poor vision at final review was associated with eyes having choroidal new vessels or cystoid macular oedema. Oral steroids were used to treat 11 patients, of which 10 responded with a visual improvement. The one non-responsive patient had foveal ischaemia angiographically. Generally the idiopathic phenotype was variable and only four patients showed some overlap with known subgroups of MFC. Unusual vascular features were observed in two patients. CONCLUSIONS: No specific phenotype was seen to emerge from this cohort of patients diagnosed with idiopathic MFC, although most were significantly different from the retinal white dot syndromes currently described. The visual prognosis was relatively good and most cases responded to oral steroids.

Adolescent↗

Genetic heterogeneity of Usher syndrome type II in a Dutch population.

The Usher syndromes are a group of autosomal recessive disorders characterised by retinitis pigmentosa (RP) with congenital, stable (non-progressive) sensorineural hearing loss. Profound deafness, RP, and no vestibular responses are features of Usher type I, whereas moderate to severe hearing loss and RP with normal vestibular function describe Usher type II. The gene responsible for most cases of Usher II, USH2a, is on chromosome 1q41; at least one other Usher II gene (as yet unlinked) is known to exist. Usher III presents with a progressive hearing loss that can mimic the audiometric profile seen in Usher II. A gene causing Usher III in a group of Finnish families, USH3, resides on chromosome 3q. Since the phenotypes for Usher II and III overlap, it is important to determine how frequently Usher IIa, Usher IIb, and Usher III occur in a clinical population of non-Usher I patients. DNA was collected from 29 Dutch families and genotyped with six DNA markers known to flank the USH2a gene closely, and with five markers that flank USH3. Results of haplotype and linkage analysis were consistent with linkage to the USH2a locus in 26 of these 29 Dutch families. Three families displayed no linkage to 1q41 markers, and one of these three families appeared unlinked to 3q markers as well; current haplotypes of the other two families are inconclusive for linkage with the USH3 locus without further genotyping. While an A test for heterogeneity of USH2a was statistically significant, no convincing evidence of linkage to USH3 was found in this Dutch sample. Consequently, the frequency of the unlinked variety of Usher IIa (Usher IIb) in The Netherlands was estimated as 0.104. To determine if marker alleles could be used to differentiate Usher type IIa from Usher IIb, parental chromosomes of the 26 Usher IIa families were analysed for significant non-random association of specific alleles from flanking loci with USH2a, but no linkage disequilibrium was observed in this Dutch population.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗